Climbers wary of renaming tower

| Friday, April 08, 2005

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GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — Some climbers are wary of a proposal to add "Bear Lodge Historic Landmark" to the name of Devils Tower National Monument.

Climbers currently are asked not to scale Devils Tower during June out of respect for American Indian ceremonies that time of year. Some worry that the addition of the Bear Lodge name could lead to the recommendation becoming mandatory.

A public meeting on the issue is planned for Saturday in Hulett.

Lisa Eckert, superintendent of Devils Tower National Monument, announced the name proposal when she announced a review of the climbing policy last month.

Eckert said the proposed new name — Devils Tower National Monument at Bear Lodge Historic Landmark — is intended simply to be more inclusive of cultures. She declined to comment further, saying she would answer questions at Saturday's meeting.

But climbing enthusiast John Gunnels of Gillette is concerned.

"A designation change ... gives them the right to build a fence around the inside of the asphalt trail, which not only affects climbers but any visitor," he said.

When the climbing rules were last reviewed 10 years ago, several lawsuits were filed. Courts ruled that a climbing ban during June could only be voluntary, not mandatory.

For the first five years of the policy, about 85 percent of climbers chose not to climb in June, according to the National Park Service.

However, Eckert has said the Park Service will look at whether the voluntary ban is working.

The park has added at least one climbing guide to its staff this year. Also new is a Park Service-produced video that climbers are required to view once a year if they want to climb Devils Tower. The video focuses on climbing safety and resource protection.

At least six tribes have historical and geographical ties to the 1,267-foot geological formation, which is the hardened core of a long-extinct volcano. Many American Indians perform religious ceremonies in the area, such as vision quests, and leave prayer bundles, according to the Park Service.

The Arapaho called the tower "Bear's Tipi." The Cheyenne called it "Bear's Lodge" and "Bear's House."

"Some perceive climbing on the tower as a desecration to their sacred site," a Park Service statement on the voluntary no-climb policy says. "It appears to many American Indians that climbers and hikers do not respect their culture by the very act of climbing on or near the tower."

Gillette climber Matt Suedekum said that most climbers respect cultural ties to the tower but that they are careful to protect access for all.

"If that's what they want to do, give them a month," he said. "But if they're doing it just for the politics of it, they need to get over it. It's a rock."